Lagerstroemia (indica x fauriei) plant named &#39;JD827&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Lagerstroemia  ( indica×fauriei ) plant named ‘JD827’, characterized by its unique blooming time, dense, upright, broad, spreading to globose growth habit, fast growth rate and attractive Purple flowers is disclosed.

GENUS SPECIES

Lagerstroemia (indica×fauriei)

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘JD827’

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofCrapemyrtle of the genus Lagerstroemia and member of the Lythraceaefamily. This new Crapemyrtle variety, hereinafter referred to as‘JD827’, was discovered by John McNair Davy in May, 1997 in Milton, Fla.‘JD827’ is characterized by its unique blooming time, dense, upright,broad and spreading to globose growth habit, fast growth rate, andattractive purple flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘JD827’ was found as an openly pollinated seedling in a group ofLagerstroemia (indica×fauriei) ‘Zuni’ (unpatented) seedling plants beinggrown in Milton, Fla. and was subsequently tested and evaluatedprimarily in Milton, Fla. and Loxley, Ala. The references in thisapplication to these various evaluations will refer primarily to thesetwo locations. The objective of the breeding program was to create newCrapemyrtle varieties which have unique blooming periods, bloom colors,and growth habits.

Asexual propagation of the new plant by cuttings has been under Mr.Davy's direction and control in Milton, Fla. and Loxley, Ala. The newplant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproduces true totype in successive generations of asexual reproduction. The plant cannotbe reproduced true from seed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices.

1. Deciduous, multiple, or single stemmed shrub to small tree.

2. Dense, upright, broad, spreading to globose in nature.

3. Fast growth rate under normal fertilization and moisture conditions.

4. Unique blooming from early spring into fall.

5. A purple flower color Purple Group 78A.

6. Immature stems have an attractive red color which matures to brown.

7. Mature foliage changes to an attractive yellow, orange and red colorin the fall.

8. Attractive trunk structure when lower limbs are removed.

9. The grayish colored bark exfoliates to reveal a beige coloration.

10. Attractive trunk and stem structure during the winter.

11. Adaptable to a wide range of soil types from acidic to alkaline andsand to clay.

12. Heat and drought tolerant.

13. Easily propagated with softwood cuttings in the spring and summer.

14. Tolerates full sun.

15. Hardy to Zone 7.

16. Relatively pest resistant.

17. Good specimen plant.

18. Very desirable in planters.

19. Requires little pruning but is tolerant if pruning is needed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new Lagerstroemia hybrid variety is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographic prints in which:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a close-up of the flowers of the newLagerstroemia hybrid cultivar of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a photograph showing the dense, broad, spreading to weepinggrowth habit of a young three gallon (11.4 liter) plant of the newLagerstroemia hybrid cultivar of the present invention.

The colors shown are as true as is reasonably possible to obtain byconventional photographic procedures. Colors in the photographs mayappear different than actual colors due to light reflectance. The colorsof the various plant parts are defined with reference to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. Description of colors in ordinaryterms are presented where appropriate for clarity in meaning.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new variety ofCrapemyrtle based on observations made of two year old plants grown inone to three gallon (3.8-11.4 Liter) containers in wholesale commercialproduction practices, in greenhouses, and in established landscapeplantings.

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS

TABLE 1 Lagerstroemia x Lagerstroemia x Lagerstroemia x Characteristic‘JD827’ ‘Zuni’ ‘Gamad V’ PP# 17,411 Height (Mature) 6-10′ (1.8-3 m) 5-10′ (1.5-3 m) 3-4′ (0.9-1.2 m) Width (Mature) 5-8′ (1.5-2.4 m) 5-10′(1.5-3 m) 3-4′ (0.9-1.2 m) Leaf Length 1 1/16-1 11/16″ 1⅛-1⅝″ 1⅝″(2.7-4.3 cm) (2.8-4.1 cm) (4.2 cm) Leaf Width 11/16-1⅛″ ⅝-1″ 13/16″(1.7-2.8 cm) (1.6-2.5 cm) (2.1 cm) Flower Color Purple G. 78A Red-PurpleG. 72B Red-Purple G. 73B Bloom Period Mid May-September Mid June toSeptember Late June to September (Approx. 120 days) (Approx. 100 days)(Approx. 90 days) Growth Habit Dense, upright, Dense and globose Compactbroad, spreading to globose Bark Color Greyed Brown G. 199C Greyed BrownG. 199D Greyed-White G. 156A

Lagerstroemia hybrid ‘Zuni’ (unpatented) and Lagerstroemia hybrid ‘GamadV’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,411 are well known in the industry and arecomparable to ‘JD827’ in that all are deciduous and can be maintained aseither a shrub or small tree. However, there are many differences. Thegrowth habit of ‘JD827’ is dense, upright, broad, spreading to globoseand 6-10′ (1.8-3 m) tall compared to ‘Zuni’ which is similar in heightat 5-10′ (1.5-3 m) but has a more globose growth habit. ‘Gamad V’ has amature height of 3-4′ (0.9-1.2 m), a compact growth habit and pinkflowers.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Lagerstroemia (indica×fauriei) ‘JD827’.        -   Parentage.—Openly pollinated seedling of Lagerstroemia            (indica×fauriei) ‘Zuni’.        -   Commercial.—Deciduous tree or shrub.        -   Form.—Dense, upright, broad, spreading to globose.        -   Height.—6′-10′ (1.8-3 m).        -   Width.—5′-8′ (1.5-2.4 m).        -   Growth rate.—Fast under normal fertilization and moisture            conditions. Softwood cuttings taken in the spring and summer            produce cuttings in 1 to 2 months. Root development is            vigorous and finely branched. These 6″ (15 cm) tall cuttings            planted in 3 gallon (11.4 liter) containers in the fall are            16″ to 20″ (41-51 cm) tall with profuse flowering the            following year. The plant normally grows at the rate of            about 10″ to 14″ (25-35 cm) per year and reaches a spread of            5′ to 8′ (1.5-2.4 m) and a height of 6′ to 10′ (1.8-3 m) at            maturity while maintaining a dense habit due to the abundant            branch development.        -   Foliage.—Alternate to subopposite, simple, dedciduous,            elliptic and varying in size from 1 1/16″ to 1 11/16″            (2.7-4.3 cm) long and 11/16″ to 1⅛″ (1.7-2.8 cm) wide. The            apex is acute and the base is cuneate. The margins are            entire and the leaf veination is pinnate. The petioles are            1/16″ to ⅛″ (0.2-0.3 cm) long, 1/32″(0.08 cm) in diameter            and puberulent. Midveins and laterals are puberulent and            prominent on the upper surface and undersurface. Immature            petioles, upper surface midveins and leaf margins are            Greyed-Purple Group 187B. The petioles mature to Green Group            137B and the margins mature to Yellow-Green Group 147A.            Immature lateral veins are Yellow-Green Group 146D upper            surface and undersurface and mature to Yellow-Green Group            146C upper surface and undersurface. Immature midveins are            also Yellow-Green Group 146D undersurface. Mature midveins            are Yellow-Green Group 146C upper surface and undersurface.            These immature foliage colors last three to four weeks. The            upper surface of the immature leaves is glossy, glabrous and            is Green Group 137B and the underside is Yellow-Green Group            146L. This immature foliage matures to Green Group 137A            upper surface and Green Group 146B undersurface in one to            two weeks. Mature upper surface is glossy and glabrous and            the undersurface is matte. Mature foliage color persists            until the onset of cool weather in the fall. At this point            the leaf color changes to Yellow-Orange Group 14B.            Orange-Red Group 33A and Red Group 45A with all colors            interspersed. These colors persist until the leaves fall.            Initial spring growth occurs in March. After the initial            spring flush there is almost continuous growth until fall            ending in about late October or early November. When grown            in full sun, the internode length of this plant is ½″ to            ⅞″(1.3-2.2 cm). When grown in light shade the internode            length is 1″ to 1½″ (2.6-3.8 cm). As would be expected, a            plant grown in shade results in a taller, less dense plant            with larger leaves.        -   Stems.—The young shoots are slender, angled, glabrous and            have a reddish pigmentation, Greyed-Purple Group 187B when            exposed to direct sunlight. Young shoots which are shaded            from direct sunlight are Yellow-Green Group 144B. This new            growth becomes Brown Group 200D and rounded in four to five            weeks. After one or more years the stems become smooth,            sinewy, Greyed-Brown Group 199B and eventually begin to            exfoliate revealing the underlying color Greyed-Brown Group            199C. Branching habit is heavy. The pith is solid and            uniform.        -   Flowers.—Perfect, 1¼″ to 1¾″ (3.1-4.4 cm) in diameter, ⅝″ to            ⅞″ (1.6-2.2 cm) in depth, non-fragrant, borne on dense,            upright glabrous, 5″ to 7″ (12.7-17.8 cm) high, 4″ to 5″            (10.2-12.7 cm) wide terminal panicles, on current season's            growth from mid-May through September. Flowers normally open            from the base of the panicle progressing upward. Each            panicle has from 8 to 12 racemes which have from 3 to 18            flowers each, resulting in 200 or more flowers per panicle.            A mature plant can have hundreds of panicles. Flower buds            are rotund, ¼″ to ⅜″(0.6-0.9 cm) long, ¼″-⅜″ (0.6-0.9 cm)            wide and Greyed-Purply Group 185A when exposed to direct            sunlight. Young buds which are shaded from direct sunlight            are Yellow-Green Group 144B. Flower color is Purple Group            78A front and back. The flowers are attached to pedicels            which are ¼″ to 7/16″ (0.6-1.1 cm) in length and            Greyed-Purple Group 187B. The peduncle of each raceme is            from 1″ to 4¼″ (2.5-10.8 cm) long and Greyed-Purple Group            187B. Each flower has six petals that are ¾″ (1.9 cm) long,            ⅝″ (1.6 cm) wide; the blade is cordate-orbicular and            crisped. The flower has 35 to 36 stamens in a cluster, 30 of            which are shorter ⅜″ (0.9 cm) long and located in the            center. There are 5 to 6 longer ⅝″ (1.6 cm) stamens which            are located around the outside. The shorter stamens are            Greyed-Purple Group 185C and the longer stamens are            Red-Purple Group 67C. The anthers are Yellow-Orange Group            19A. The pollen matures to Yellow Group 13B. The pistil is            ¾″ (1.9 cm) long and Greyed-Purple Group 185C. The ovary is            single, 1/16″ (0.2 cm) in diameter, with no pubescence and            Yellow-Orange Group 150C. Each flower has six sepals that            are 3/16 ″ (0.5 cm) long by ⅛″ (0.3 cm) wide, lanceolate and            fused into a calyx. The calyx is ⅜″ to ½″ (0.9-1.3 cm) in            diameter, ⅜″ to 7/16″ (0.9-1.1 cm) in depth, has entire            margins and acuminate tips. The outer surface of the calyx            is Greyed-Purple Group 187B when exposed to direct sunlight            and Yellow-Green Group 144B when shaded from direct            sunlight. The inner surface is Yellow-Green Group 145C.            Flowering period is from mid May through September. The            self-cleaning blooms last eight to ten days on the plant in            the garden.        -   Fruit.—Broad-ellipsoidal six-valved dehiscent capsule, ⅜″ to            ½″ (0.9-1.3 cm) in diameter. Summer fruit color Yellow-Green            Group 143C ripens to Green Group 137A in the fall and            persists as Green Group 137A through the winter. The mature            capsule opens in the fall to release 12-16 glabrous winged            seeds which are 3/16″ to ¼″ (0.5-0.6 cm) long and Brown            Group 200D. Normal fruitset is heavy.        -   Culture.—Grows well in a wide range of conditions. Tolerates            full sun. Adaptable to a wide range of soil types from            acidic to alkaline and sand to clay. Tolerates heat and            drought when established. Reponds well to mulching and            medium applications of fertilizer. Very little pruning is            needed. Ideal for coastal regions and warmer parts of the            Piedmont. Cold-hardiness and resistance to diseases and            insects are comparable to the parent variety. Propagated            with softwood cuttings in the spring and summer.        -   Disease and insect resistance.—Resistance to diseases and            insects common to Lagerstroemia has not been observed.

The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to beexhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. Theexemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain thepresent invention so that others skilled in the art may practice theinvention.

1. A new and distinct variety of Lagerstroemia plant named ‘JD827’ asillustrated and described herein.